Although it has been a month since the regular season of Cross Country has come to a close, the memories of the historic 2018 IHSA State Cross Country meet remain prevalent in not only the minds of the 7 runners, 7 alternates, and numerous coaching staff of the Glenbard West Girls’ Cross country team, but of the spectators, fans, and all those who observed the iconic meet, which took place in Peoria at the renowned Detweiller Park.

The day was November 3, 2018, Saturday. In the early hours of the afternoon, Glenbard’s  7 runners – Anna Nickoley, Abby Hoffman, Audrey Allman, Delaney Engel, Lauren Pappas, Katie Hohe, and Katelynne Hart – toed the line, prepping for when the gun would sound the start of the race.

Once the gun went off, the race was set. Glenbard’s own Katelynne Hart, two-time cross-country state champion and four-time track champion, took the lead from the beginning. Coursing down the main stretch of Detweiller, making a sharp left back up towards the west portion of the park, and back again towards the start, the girls went through the first mile. Hart came through the mile in 5:11, Hohe in 5:19, Hoffman in 5:41, Engel in 5:52, Allman in 5:55, and Nickoley and Pappas both in 5:58.

Rounding the course in the “triangle” portion of Detweiller, the girls rounded out the second mile, settling into the final portion of the race. Hart was in the lead in 10:36, Hohe in all-state medal contention still with 11:05, Hoffman in 12:08, Engel in 12:14, Nickoley in 12:23, Allman in 12:22, and Pappas in 12:32.

Up the hill and into the finish line, our own Katelynne Hart crossed the line in first place for the third consecutive year in a row. Her time was recording breaking: 15:59.82, 5:20 per mile, and the second best time ever ran at Detweiller Park for the Girl’s Race.

Hohe came in next, finishing her Glenbard West cross country campaign with a 16:59.67, breaking seventeen minutes for the three mile and receiving a 15th place finish, and earning All-State Honors.

Next came Delaney Engel in 18:31.12, then Abby Hoffman in 18:31.78, with Anna Nickoley following in 18:38.03, along with Audrey Allman in 18:40.09, and finally Lauren Pappas in 19:05.72.

Overall, the Glenbard West Girls placed 13th in the team score.

Congratulations to Katelynne Hart and Katie Hohe for their All-State Honors along with the whole team for their amazing effort at this year’s IHSA Girls State Cross Country meet!